Monsoon East Restaurant Review

: On Bellevue's Main Street, the younger sister of Capitol Hill’s Monsoon and Monsoon East offers the same fresh, vibrant cuisine. Chic décor and moody lighting create a tranquil oasis. Dishes are artistically composed and easy to share. Oyster fans will be drawn to the raw bar, which also features sushi. Happily, the menu offers many signature dishes, including crisp drunken chicken and tasty bo la lot beef, or wraps made with peppery leaves around flank steak, which are then grilled into tasty morsels. Adventuresome palates may order the Monterey squid stuffed with duck meat, basil and jícama, which is then grilled. A delightful Vietnamese bouillabaisse includes mussels, clams, prawns, Dungeness crab and squid. Dessert fans won’t want to miss the moist banana cake with coconut sauce. Choose from an extensive selection of wine from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. One drawback: Waitstaff is gracious but service can be slow.